Effective 28 Aug 1992

99.879. Abandoned property report on suitability for rehabilitation or construction, duties of building official, notice to owners — hearing — right of owner to contest — decision, procedure — eminent domain action, when. — 1. In any municipality adopting an ordinance pursuant to section 99.877, the building official shall certify to the urban homesteading agency all properties which are abandoned, together with a statement as to which structures are suitable for rehabilitation, and all municipally owned properties which are vacant, together with a statement as to which properties are suitable for construction. At least quarterly thereafter the building official shall certify to the urban homesteading agency any changes in the number or condition of the abandoned properties or the vacant municipally owned properties.

2. Upon receipt of the list of the abandoned properties pursuant to subsection 1 of this section, the urban homesteading agency shall serve notice to each owner of such properties by mailing to the owner by certified mail to the last known address of such owner, or, in the case of the owner who cannot be identified or whose address is unknown, by publishing a copy of such notice in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality, stating such property has been determined to be abandoned and setting a date for a hearing before the urban homesteading agency, or any hearing examiner appointed by the urban homesteading agency, for the purpose of determining whether the owner is willing and able to rehabilitate or demolish the vacant structure on such abandoned property within a reasonable time. At such hearing the owner may contest the designation of such property as abandoned. A decision rendered by a hearing examiner after such hearing shall be in writing and shall be filed with the urban homesteading agency for its final decision. All decisions of the urban homesteading agency shall be in writing and shall be mailed, by certified mail, return receipt requested, to each owner and to all parties to the proceedings. A decision of the urban homesteading agency may be appealed by filing an action in circuit court within thirty days after notification of the decision is received.

3. In the event that an owner fails to appear, either personally or by an attorney, on the date set for the hearing or any adjourned date of such hearing, or in the event the urban homesteading agency, after holding the hearing pursuant to subsection 2 of this section, determines that the owner of such property is not willing or able to rehabilitate or demolish such property within a reasonable time, the urban homesteading agency may recommend to the governing body of the municipality that the urban homesteading agency be authorized to acquire the property, either by purchase of the property, free and clear of any liens, for an amount not in excess of fair market value of the land and any improvements thereon as determined by the urban homesteading agency, or by eminent domain, provided all eminent domain proceedings instituted under this section shall be undertaken by the urban homesteading agency in the same manner as provided by law for condemnation proceedings by the municipality, and title to all property acquired pursuant to this subsection shall be held in the name of the municipality; or the building official that he order the structure demolished; or the tax collector, if any liens for real property taxes are due to the municipality against the abandoned property, that he institute tax foreclosure proceedings as provided by law.

4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an urban homesteading agency may, at any time, with the concurrence of the governing body of the city, accept free and clear title to an abandoned property upon which exists a structure deemed rehabilitable by a building official for such consideration not in excess of fair market value of the land and any improvements on such land as determined by the urban homesteading agency.

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(L. 1992 H.B. 1434 & 1490 § 4)